Ex-NH lawmaker nabbed on fugitive charge in Connecticut

WATERFORD — A former New Hampshire state representative who once served as state chairman for Joe Biden's presidential campaign has been captured in Connecticut on a fugitive from justice charge.

Waterford police Lt. Stephen Bellos said 56-year-old James E. Ryan was arrested Tuesday at an apartment he rented.

Bellos tells The Day of New London that Ryan was on parole and did not have permission to leave New Hampshire.

According to New Hampshire authorities, Ryan was sentenced in February 2010 after pleading guilty to felony charges of theft, forgery and issuing bad checks. Ryan was a state representative in 2006 and 2007 when he stole checks from political contributors.

He is being held on a $500,000 bond pending arraignment Wednesday. It's not clear if he has a lawyer.